Eccentric, tea drinking, stationary addicted cat lady. Living with multiple chronic illnesses and a multipack of crisps, you'll most likely find me with a cup of tea, a new notebook and my kitty cat. Or in a hedge taking photos of wildlife. So grab a cup of tea with me, sit down and get stuck in.

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As I written about before, I work part time, four days a week with one full day on a Monday. Every work day is followed by a rest the moment I get home, these have got longer and longer over recent months and now can be up to four hours – quite significant for a six hour work day. This mean I have less time in the evening than I would if I was a healthy full time worker, and the time I do have is not exactly filled with me bouncing off the walls with energy. Think more sloth after a long day hanging around on my branch.

So the short evenings, three days a week off regularly spent almost entirely in bed or simply doing nothing but listening to audiobooks and lying in a heap mean there is little to no time, or energy, for my hobbies, ambitions, hopes, dreams and projects.

I work in an industry notorious for its exceptionally long hours, being on call during time off and stepping in at the very last minute to cover shifts. While this isn’t something that really applies to my role I can’t help but feel guilty when I’m fading after four hours, staggering out the door after six knowing I’ll soon be crawling into bed with my cat while my colleagues still have another six hours to go. I have to keep reminding myself, I didn’t choose this, I’d rather be working full time along side them, earning a living and leaving with the energy to do the things I want.

Over the years I’ve had many hobbies that I’ve had to give up and I often even struggle to read. But lying in my cosy heap of blankets has also given me much time to think about what I’d like to do alongside my day job, to think about what would really light me up and have me excited to work on in my own time.

Projects have come and gone, often just ideas that never make it on to paper, or screen, because I just didn’t have the energy or cognitive power to get anything done. Other projects linger on for months, while I debate whether or not to give them up. I wake up on a Monday with plans to make lists of what I need to do to keep on track but the lists never prevail, and Mondays pass by like they were worried time was going to run out. I feel guilty that I haven’t done anything, a failure even. And the less I do the less I can bring myself to do, I just can’t face it anymore. So my passion projects linger in the background, until they dwindle so far into the distance I can no longer reach them.

In today’s society, busy is often seen to equal success. But what if you aren’t able to be ‘busy’, what if your idea of busy is planning an entire rest day on the sofa because you want to celebrate a birthday or go to a friends wedding? Is this form of busy any less justifiable than spending three hours on a Saturday afternoon writing website copy and blogs? Absolutely not. My lists on a Monday should consist of scheduling in rest, and if I spend ten minutes writing ideas for my project that week then it’s a huge success, because add up those ten minutes over the weeks and you’ve got yourself a few hours work, a massive achievement in my book.

I’ve recently scheduled in rest times on the calendar app on my phone. A little reminder pops up on my screen when I get in from work and at weekends to remind me to head to bed for a couple of hours because that is what is most important. If a three hour sleep gives me two quality hours in the evening then that is success. And if anyone asks, I am BUSY, busy resting.

So if you are wondering what the hell happened to the projects I probably chewed your ear off about last time I saw you, it’s coming, but first I’ll be taking my much needed rest.

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I started off 2018 on a real high, determined to make it the best year yet, make it ‘the year’ as I kept telling everyone until they were sick of talking to me. Things have certainly come my way to test that theory but I keep on bouncing back, and for that I am endlessly proud of myself. I have worked so hard on myself this year and I’m really starting to see the benefits. It’s a practice, an endless process, and it really is quite wonderful.

Last year I started working with Jody Shield and her team and became a founding member of TribeTonic, an amazing guidance, healing and spiritual support system of mentoring, live sessions and endless support. The tag line is ‘get your spiritual six pack’ and I can honestly say, with a lot of help from Jody and Jeanine (Gasser) I am well on my way there. This year I have put a real focus on healing sessions, meditations and being open to what the Universe has in store for me. It’s helped me see the positive in every situation by reminding myself I’ve got through things before, and will do so again. As Jody always says, you are not your mind, and always be in your ‘yes’.

It’s interesting how I’ve recently realised that as a child I was actually quite spiritual, but as a teenager, trying to be cool (not that I ever got anywhere near) I dropped it all in favour of things slightly more acceptable for a kid in the late 90’s. From about the age of ten onwards I developed a strong interest in crystal healing, reiki and aromatherapy. I had my own little collection of stones and oils and an array of books my mom’s sister passed on to me. I had meditation cassette tapes and often listened to them on a Sunday afternoon before the school night blues set in. Then life got in the way and it all gradually fizzled out.

As the years have gone on I’ve continued to feel a spiritual calling but I wasn’t sure what it was, I exploring religion a little but realised that while I do have certain beliefs, it’s not quite the right fit for me. Then I read Jen Sincero’s You Are A Badass. I’d always been a little put off by this book as the first page mentions God, The Universe, Mother Earth etc etc but get beyond that first page and the book opens you up to a whole new world. One you are already living in but didn’t quite notice. After seeing her speak at Future Shapers Live I knew it was time to get over my awkward embarrassed phase of feeling but not being spiritual and just get on with it. I’ve never really bothered what people think about my eccentric ways before and I decided it wasn’t time to start now.

I came across Jody Shield’s book, Life Tonic in a magazine and got my hands on a copy. I struggled a little with reading it (chronic fatigue and brain fog will do that) so I stepped out of my comfort zone a little and listened to the audio book. Then when the Tribe came along it just felt right, so I signed right up. And I have to say it’s one of the best things I’ve done in a long time.

Mentoring from Jody and Jeanine has lead me to read/listen to a rather different selection of books than in previous years. My new favourite genre of books are spiritual self help. I’ve recently finished Light Is The New Black by Rebecca Campbell. A beautiful selection of poems, prayer, journal prompts and insight into the spiritual world. A calming and peaceful read this is definitely one I’ll be returning to time and time again. Currently on my audible playlist is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert who has the most soothing voice I’ve heard. I’m so glad I chose to listen to this on audio book as I don’t think I would have felt the same effects reading it on paper. Even if you aren’t in touch, or haven’t got, a spiritual side I’d definitely recommend both of these books as they create an escape from the chaotic non stop world we live in today.

As I’ve got back in touch with my spiritual side, rediscovering who I am, I have slowly grown my collection of crystals, guided meditations, yoga flows and breathing exercises, all of which are extremely helpful when it comes to living life with both physical and mental health issues. I also journal more regularly too.

I remember endless journalling starting around the age of nineteen when I was training to be a nurse. Each night, or morning depending on my shifts, I’d write sides and sides of A4 about my innermost feelings, journals which I still have to this day. Again, it’s something that stopped, this time around the time I became unwell at twenty three. My thoughts all just felt too overwhelming and it was easier to bottle them up and file them away as opposed to getting them on paper. I’ve since dabbled with journalling but 2018 has proven to be a year of both insight and relief by getting things down on the page. I have a beautiful hand crafted leather bound journal that I take everywhere with me and is more like my 2018 Workbook than just a journal.

As I mentioned above, discovering and working with everything the spiritual ‘you’ has to offer is a practice, it never ends, and it never fails to surprise and delight. It’s helping me cope with chronic illness, change and the stress that comes with every day life. I have a new morning routine which consists of meditation and writing before work and I try and do the same before bed. I’ll add some relaxing oils to my burner and set aside half an hour for myself, to be undisturbed, no phone calls, emails or social media, just me and everything that I am.

So don’t turn your nose up at spirituality, you just never know what you might discover, after all now is as good a time as any to try…

My amazing friend Sabrina beat breast cancer then got married abroad, and I was lucky enough to be able to make it to her wedding reception for a couple of hours with the help of another friend. Definitely a highlight as I hadn’t seen her since I moved to Brighton six years previously.

I also managed to make it to a tutorial for my Open University course at the London School of Economics – I finally felt like a real student!

February

The first two weeks of February were a washout with a nasty virus that wouldn’t leave me and more fatigued body alone. It was a long, horrible few days. A trip to see a friend in Midhurst was cancelled and I was pretty upset and blue.

On recovery I managed to meet Stuart in Preston Park where it snowed and we went on our first mysterious ‘assignment’. An utterly fantastic and hilarious afternoon.

I finally got an appointment with a real medical professional who for once didn’t patronise me, tell me to join a gym or make me cry, I had some medication increased and was booked in a month later to see how I was doing.

March

My wife and I finally had a day out together and we went to Worthing. After hearing numerous horror stories I was pleasantly surprised at the beautiful beach, different wildlife and lovely town centre. It was also the first day of two solid months of heartburn.

I wasn’t well enough to make a tutorial at Kings College London, again, but did manage to look round a few old bookshops with Stuart instead.

I went on a solo mini trip to Seaford, a local town, to sit on the beach and write. Again, I was surprised at what this small seaside town had to offer in way of views and scenery. It was also a beautifully warm spring day.

I had to give up my university studies with The Open University. I obtained a letter from my doctor supporting my decision. the university kept all my money and sent a letter saying I have to recover by November or I lose it.

April

Stuart took me to his studio before we went on an ‘Industrial Assignment’. I came home to find my wife and brother in law tucked up asleep on the sofa.

The second week of April saw Nat and I celebrate our fifth anniversary and we had a lovely little treat planned. With a cat sitter booked in, we headed off for a delightful french afternoon tea at Julian Plumart, shopping for a Pandora bracelet and then on to The Grand Hotel, a stunning luxurious Victorian hotel on the seafront where we had a suite, a queen size bed and more floorspace than we knew what to do with. Oh, and a bath – all hail the bath!

May

I joined a local gym and before working out decided to get some expert advice. I found a trainer who said his mum had fibro so thought we’d be a great match. On the day of one of my first session I was very ill after a lot of overtime at work. After emailing to cancel he replied saying lying in bed won’t cure me and I should get off of my backside. I didn’t go back.

‘Assignment Carouselfie’ with Stuart. No further words are required.

I met dad in London for a trip on a Route Master bus and took fun photos with my polaroid camera.

We bought Suzie Smart Car. A lifelong dream come true!

I attended Marie Clare Future Shapers in a flash London hotel. A great but utterly exhausting day, but I met another fellow Lancashire Lass living south and we spent the day hanging out together while she looked after me.

Woo, a busy month!

June

Nat and I visited the animal rescue centre Raystede. A beautiful day and nice relaxing drive through some quiet countryside.

I was meant to attending a blogging event – Blogtacular – but wasn’t well enough to go, as usual.

The guys from work chauffeured me and Nat in a rather posh car to One Aldwych for afternoon tea, my birthday present from Nat.

July

My parents came to stay. A lovely weekend. We took them to Julian Plumart for afternoon tea.

I stayed with my friend for a quiet, sleepy weekend in Midhurst and went to watch her perform in her local village choir. A beautiful evening.

August

I bought Nat horse riding lessons for us both for her birthday. Note to self, don’t learn to horse ride at 31 and definitely don’t do it with chronic pain. I actually couldn’t sit down for a week. However, riding a horse over the South Downs was an incredible, if not extremely painful, experience.

I had lunch at The Lanesborough in London following on from a work trip. A delightful, delicious experience.

Nat and I hopped in Suzie for a spontaneous trip to a small local farm. We acted like children, got lost in a maze and attacked by the most persistent wasp ever to have existed. A jolly good day in the sunshine.

September

I met my buddies from the ME/CFS NHS group I attended last year – the first time we’ve all been well enough to meet up together. It was so amazing to see them again.

I had a brain and head scan to see what on earth is so wrong with my painful locked jaw. I must have a huge brain as it took over an hour!

October

On a way to a local cafe to meet Stuart I fell upon a book fair. Needless to say we had the most wonderful afternoon with some excellent antique finds.

November

I didn’t recover, thus lost my university fees.

I headed for a restful weekend in favourite place on earth – St Annes on the Sea. With the help of staying in a luxury guest house a two minute walk from the seafront I had a relaxing, sleepy time and saw some of the most beautiful sunsets and chatted to some wonderfully friendly people. Lancashire is definitely my spiritual home.

Nat and I stayed in a hotel on Brighton seafront a few minutes in a taxi from our home. With a mahogany four poster bed and sea views it was a lovely treat, and dinner at Prezzo was indulgent and delicious.

I started working with Jody Shield – the healer, coach and mentor and got taken under the wing of her and her amazing team.

Nat and I went to a local Christmas Craft Fair at Brighton Open Market, a stones throw from our house.

December

Mom came to stay while Nat was at a Buffy The Vampire Slayer Convention. We had a lovely festive weekend including a buffet and Christmas song evening with Stuart.

I attended both the Advent and Carol services at my local church which is a beautiful example of architecture with stained glass windows and a stunning original organ.

Christmas (early) at my parent’s house was the most festive I’ve felt in years, with gifts, decorations and Christmas dinner it was quite perfect indeed.

Nat and I also went with Stuart to a traditional night of ghost stories as told by the Victorians in the run up to Christmas.

And so I finish writing this on the 21st December, with the real Christmas day still to go. I have of course omitted most of the parts where I have felt dreadfully unwell for most of the year, and I simply couldn’t include every wonderful lunch or tea/coffee shop visit with Nat, lunch and serious selfie dates with Stuart (or Dr Mystery as I prefer to call him) and the many wonderful times with my parents or I’d never get this post finished! I have also seldom mentioned my beloved Trinny, the fluffiest, prettiest nurse around. 2017 wouldn’t have been the same without her…

I also haven’t written about my job. I work with an amazing group of people who I am proud to call my friends and colleagues and I am being supported in my ever changing career no end. They take me to and from work to save on energy, run my errands if I am too unwell to go out and are just an awesome bunch who look after me, so a huge thank you to everyone at Consec 🙂

I am currently working on my hopes, dreams, goals, aspirations (whatever you want to call them) for 2018. But the product of that is definitely for another blog post…

So as I bid farewell to 2017 I want to take a moment to express gratitude to the friends who have checked on me when I’m ill, not got annoyed when I cancel plans for the fifth time and bought me loads of tea!

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Who am I? Who are you? How does anyone know what their identity is? Is it your job, marital status or age as so often detailed in a magazine columns – ‘Lady K, 31, Civil Partner, Brighton’. I prefer to think of it as what you enjoy – hobbies, interests, pastimes. So for me I think I can be identified as an eccentric, cat loving, bird watching, nature loving trainspotter who loves reading, spending time alone and is a classic introvert. Or can I?

Life with chronic pain and fatigue and all the other symptoms that come as part of the joyous package mean life is far from what I would like and what it used to be. My days now revolve around feeling wiped out, worrying about feeling wiped out, resting to recover from feeling exhausted and resting to store up enough energy to get through the coming days at work. So where does that leave time for my hobbies, of which I know there are many.

‘Health Professionals’ and various people I have come across tell me not to waste energy. I can rarely muster up enough energy to cook a decent meal, and when I do end up with some sort of injury – a burn or cut – so if I can’t even feed myself properly, then why should I use any lucky spare energy on doing what I enjoy, for example reading a book. I’ll tell you why – because I’m allowed to enjoy things too. It what makes me who I am, keeps me sane, and allows me to cling on to the little bits of me that I feel are left. Its a reminder that the real Lady K is still in there somewhere, fighting and waiting eagerly to escape the slow, tired body and mind I’m currently trapped in. So while I may feel absolutely awful after such activity, the chances are I’ll feel absolutely awful anyway, so I might as well enjoy a little me time while I can.

In 2017 I’ve attempted to make myself a priority. I’ve spent my life putting other people and things first, and it’s really hard to stop that. However, I think for a first try I’ve done well. I’ve read seventeen books this year. Admittedly some of these are graphic novels or books that require very little brain power, but others were deep storylines, that although short, were a challenge to read. And I loved every second of it. Some of my earliest memories are of reading. My parents reading bedtime stories, winning awards in reception class aged four for having read the most books and having a reading age double my actual age. Reading is a part of ME (not M.E.) and I’ve made space for it in my life. I’ve read in bed, reclined on the sofa, in between napping on long train journeys home (I recommend advance first class tickets, affordable and comes with a reclining seat and endless tea on Virgin West Coast). Reading is rather easy to incorporate into chronic life, and I thoroughly intend to keep it up in 2018 and beyond.

2017 has also seen me making more time to spend with friends and family. My anxiety, pain and fatigue often leaves me trapped in the prison of my home but this year I have tried to fight it just a little. It’s gone well. I’ve seen plenty of my good friend Dr M, managed to have catch ups with friends who also have M.E. and pain conditions, met with Mrs B for tea and cake, spent more time with my parents despite the distance between us. Yes, a very good year for socialising indeed. Go Lady K!

I’ve also ensured I’ve had good, quality time on my own. Yes, alot of that is in my pyjamas talking to my cat while I drink tea and eat crisps, but throw in a book or a good TV series and it makes it that bit more pleasant. You forget how flippin’ awful you feel for just a moment and get lost in whatever it is you are focusing on.

So while all of the above may not seem very rock ‘n’ roll told the old me, it’s progress for the present me and it’s making life more enjoyable. No, I won’t be running along the seafront at twilight any time soon watching the starling murmuration around Brighton Pier (hopefully one day though!) but I can curl up under a blanket, have a cup of tea with a friend, nap and read a chapter of my latest book.

So the next time someone asks you to identify yourself, remember, you are more than your job or marital status, your are more than any illness that may affect you, you are YOU.

My name is Lady K, and I’m an eccentric, cat loving, bird watching, nature loving trainspotter who loves reading, and spending time alone.

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If you know me, or are a regular reader of my blog, you’ll probably know I’m not your average kind of woman. But what usually shocks people the most is that is the fact I’m a trainspotter. Yep, you got it, a trainspotter. I was born to be one, it’s a past time that runs deep in by blood passed on from generation to generation. I was lucky though, I had the best teacher to show me what to do, my dad.

I don’t wear an anorak, nor does my dad, or most of his spotting friends. They’re just your average person, with a few exceptions of course, dads, husbands, daughters and brothers, just like you and I.

Over the years dad took me to all sorts of places. Starting life in Lancashire my brothers were well versed in all things trains by the time I was born. On a trip to Blackburn as a small child I ended up in the cab of a 150, and from then on, I was rarely seen without my numbers notebook.

Living in Birmingham from the late 80’s meant I was lucky enough to go trainspotting in all manner of stations great and small. I met some characters to say the least that we still talk about today. I could spot a diesel engine a mile off and could catch the numbers of slam door coaches as they whizzed by in the days of British Rail.

As I grew into my teenage years I stopped spotting as much, but my love of trains never ceased. In fact, I developed a soft spot for the class 142, a Pacer, Railbus, whatever you wish to call it. Mostly hated amongst commuters, there is actually a strong following of Pacer fans around the UK and I’m proud to be one of them. From my early 20’s it became my mission to go on as many as possible, especially those with original seats. Here’s a few photos from my travels in Lancashire over the last decade, forever hoping to spot a Pacer with original seats…

Preston 2017142 003 at St Annes On The Sea, 2017Glorious original seats on 142 003.142 013 in Lytham, 2017.Magnificent to say the least…

Lytham, 2009.En-route to Bolton from Manchester Victoria, 2011.Dad counting how many Pacers we’d seen that day, Bolton, 2011.Bolton, 2010, with my favourite trainspotter. In action, Bolton, 2011.Look how happy Pacers make people!“The hardest life if that of a trainspotter”. Dad getting his numbers down at Manchester Victoria, 2011.Bolton, unknown date.Once of my favourite photos taken at Bolton, date unknown.Manchester Piccadilly, 2011.Manchester Victoria to Burnley, 2014.

I could share a thousand more photos of dad and I on our travels. You really haven’t lived until you’ve been on a Pacer. I’m sure dad would confirm that, he’s travelled the length of and breadth of the UK trainspotting over the years and hopes to go on as many as possible before Northern Rail withdraw them in 2020. It’ll be a sad day, but I’ve plenty more bumpy. squeaky, utterly brilliant rides left on Pacers yet!

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A fatigue flare is debilitating.
Its life changing.
It comes at a time when you are already struggling with chronic life.
It’ll replace the insomnia.
Four hours of sleep a night will be replaced by twelve.
And even then you could sleep more.
Naps last four hours.
You are horizontal on the sofa when you’re awake.
You’ll lose your appetite.
You’ll feel persistently sick.
You’ll have to drink with a straw.
Noises are too loud, smells too strong, lights too bright.
Showers are impossible, and don’t even think about washing your hair.
Cleaning your teeth becomes a dreaded chore.
And work, oh work, how your body will cope you will never know.
But you’ll make it, just.
It’s about asking for lifts home from work.
Then getting into bed without removing your make-up.
It’s about asking for help with dressing and putting on pyjamas.
It’s about your favourite company becoming your cat.
Because you can’t hold a conversation.
Or string a sentence together.
You can’t find the right words.
Questions are unbearable.
Thinking hurts.
You’ll watch re-runs of your favourite shows.
Because you can’t handle new themes or stories.
YouTube becomes too busy.
Twitter and Instagram overwhelming.
Just at a time when you need your online chronic illness community most.
You’ll become to unwell to communicate with them.
Everything hurts from your fingers to your toes.
It’ll hurt to sit, and hurt to lie down.
You’ll take more medications, you’ll feel even more sick.
You’ll be too exhausted to feel sorry for yourself.
But never too exhausted to feel afraid.
You’ll have no choice but to wait it out.
Eventually it’ll pass.
You’ll go back to your normal exhaustion, the normal fatigue.
Insomnia will return.
Naps will be two hours.
And you’ll be able to hold a conversation again.
Until the next time it returns, like a rug being gently pulled from beneath you.
You’ll fall back into bed, and begin the process all over again.

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Before we get started, lets clear one thing up. This is DISABILITY Pride, no requirement to identify as LGBTQ+ required, although of course, that’s absolutely fine, I can personally vouch for that! So many people I’ve spoken to or heard about thought the event was for disabled LGBTQ+ people, but it was for all disabled people, friends, families, carers, assistance and pet dogs included.

The wonderful organiser decided to set the event up after an awful experience her own disabled daughter had out and about in Brighton (read here) and it was held on the same day as New York and Italian Disabled Pride. It was a small, but action packed and incredibly eye opening event. In addition to the event Brighton Dome also held an interactive exhibition on invisible disabilities (find out more here)

My wife and I both attended and had a brilliant, if not emotional, afternoon together. I promptly got glitter painted on to my face (which I am still finding in the house, and at work, now) and headed over to Lunch Positive Community Cafe for a tasty bruschetta and possibly the most delicious fudge cake we’ve ever eaten. There were inspirational speeches, live music, and a community area where there were a few charities we managed to have a chat to. We also bumped in to a couple delightful Dog A.I.D. pooches again and had a brief cuddle or three. There was plenty of space to chill out and step away from the madness, and I felt more than comfortable using Sticky (unique I know!) to help me get around.

Just around the corner from the event is Brighton Dome, a beautiful old building which house the Hidden Project exhibition. It was an interactive display of art based around invisible illnesses. I’ll let you check out the photos below and the website for full details. It was an evocative and emotional experience for both myself and my wife who also has health concerns. The most poignant part of the exhibition was a video which actually brought me to tears. I was sat in the middle of the room full of people engaging with the exhibition crying my eyes out because one of the people on the video, Robbie, summed up what I’ve been trying to find the words for for years. He explained how he wanted people to see the old Robbie, and how he wanted that person back. all I can say is thank goodness for sunglasses! I also managed to do a bit of fangirling as I spotted a blogger I follow, Natasha Lipman, on the wall.

I’ll stop rambling for now and let you enjoy the exhibition through the photos I managed to take of each exhibit.

Finally the short afternoon came to an end but we had to take half an hour sitting on cosy seats in a cafe before I felt up to travelling home.

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Chronic illness is a funny old thing (not as in haha funny, as I’m sure you’ll understand if you’re reading this!). Sometimes you can do nothing and feel absolutely awful as if you’ve run a marathon then had the remainder of life sucked out of you by a Dementor, Harry Potter style. Other times you have the luxury of doing a little bit more than usual and feeling ok, no post extertional malaise days later, you just keep on plodding along. And then there is actually overdoing it and your mind and body punishing you for it as if to make sure you never leave the house again.

Last week I worked a couple of extra hours, had to get to the vet with my kitty cat (old lady check and essential vaccines) and like an idiot decided to book a ticket to the (very) local book discussion at a book store to see my favourite writer, horticulturist, and all round awesome woman.

Extra hours worked, no more than two I might add, lifts to and from work all week by my wonderful team of colleagues and friends I was doing ok-ish. Getting to the vets with my wife which is five minutes away wasn’t too troublesome. But as we were sitting in there waiting for the nurse to find the kitty blood pressure cuff (by the way the cutest thing in history – see here), that feeling came over me, as if someone had pulled the plug out and I needed to lie down immediately. I couldn’t string a sentence together, support my own body weight – thank goodness for the kind nurse who brought in chairs – or feel like I was going to be able to keep my eyes open. When that feeling hits I feel like I could collapse at any given minute, something which thankfully has only happened once and luckily I made it to my sofa in time. As soon as we made it home my wife helped me put my pjs on and I made it to bed, tramadol, a bottle of water and a very upset kitty cat for company. I slept solidly for three hours.

As the week went on I became more and more anxious. My generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) has no known trigger but tiredness makes it so much worse. I couldn’t face the book talk, could I. At the last minute I awoke from a nap just in time to slowly get ready and get the bus which thank god is only five stops and door to door. Disability pass in hand I bagged a front seat and the driver waited until my backside had hit the itchy nylon cushion. Alys Fowler is a true hero of mine, she inspired me to garden when I was housebound for almost three months with the onset of GAD, got me obsessed with growing my own fruit, vegetables and cut flowers, study floristry and she writes an awesome book. I got the lift to the third floor, folded up Little Johnny and made it just in time. For that short period of time I forgot about being ill in the intimate setting of the small discussion and enjoyed myself more than I have in a while. Everyone I told bar my parents said I need to get out more and am too young to watch a horticulturist impart her life wisdom in my spare time, but I’m so glad I braved it and made it. My hair may have been a disaster, make up smeared around my eyes post nap, but I didn’t care, and neither did Alys when I had the opportunity to chat with her.

Next comes the weekend. A time to have luxurious lie ins, wander about the local area (I live in Brighton’s iconic area of coloured terraced houses and steep streets), eat great food and meet friends. Er no! My so called lie in woke me at 3am Saturday morning so dizzy I had to hold onto the wall when popping to the loo, lie down in stages as my head was swirling as if I’d drank one too many bottles of wine, and of course, couldn’t get back to sleep. Dizziness to this extent is reserved for times when I have seriously overdone it. I assume this means going to the vets and sitting down to watch a 45 minute book discussion. Really living it large! The dizziness intensified and waned throughout the day depending on how close I was to my next nap and all hopes of cooking delicious healthy food went out the window for a takeaway. I felt as if I was floating all day, was nauseous and a strange pale shade of grey that matched the dark circles under my eyes. I fell asleep on the sofa, awoke as dawn broke and spent the next few hours waking up every half hour. Exhausted and still dizzy I gave in at 9am and made myself a cup of tea. Unable to get to sleep for a nap I decided to get out my notebook/laptop and write this blog.

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My wife recently spent some time with her parents north of London so my friend and I saw it as a perfect time to hop in Suzie Smart Car and have a gentle wander in the countryside. We ended up somewhere between Woodingdean and Rottingdean in the Brighton suburbs, a place called Happy Valley that holds the mystery of an unsolved murder from decades ago. Not so happy it seems. It was a mixture of bleak countryside, coastline and microclimates, a very eclectic place indeed.

We saw numerous butterflies I am yet to identify, heard the chirping of birds that I certainly didn’t recognise from my Midlands birdwatching days, got trapped in what felt like a field of thistles and discovered a narrow fallen woodland. All in all a good Sunday afternoon with great company

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Every June around my birthday I go back to Birmingham to spend a few days with my parents, see friends and to relax. This year I was extra lucky as not only as it warm and sunny, but I managed to spend some of my birthday (which was also father’s day) with my parents. We enjoyed tea in the sunshine while laughing at old memories before I left, first class train tickets in hand (and a bag of lovely pressies from my parents and friend)

I was definitely in need of a break when the visit home came around. Although my fatigue and pain tend to be less intense in the hot weather, I have a more general ongoing feeling of exhaustion. A couple of the afternoons we all read until we fell asleep and I had glorious two hour naps. My parent’s have a beautiful garden that blooms all year round and I couldn’t resist but take lots of snaps, especially around dusk with the gorgeous sunsets. We also visited a local park to feed the ducks bird seed and meal worms where a goose stuck it’s head up my dress and pecked my camera. Luckily I escaped unharmed!

Here are some of my favourite photos of the garden and park. I know in years to come I will look back at these photos with a smile and remember all the great moments of this long, lazy weekend.